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Minerals

A mineral is defined as a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a defined crystal structure and chemical composition. Minerals form underground through geological processes and do not include substances that were once living. Key properties include having a crystal structure that forms distinctive patterns, as well as physical properties like luster, hardness, density, cleavage, and fracture that can be used to identify different types of minerals. Common tests used to identify minerals include analyzing their streak, luster, density, cleavage, fracture, and relative hardness on the Mohs scale.

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558 views18 pages

Minerals

A mineral is defined as a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a defined crystal structure and chemical composition. Minerals form underground through geological processes and do not include substances that were once living. Key properties include having a crystal structure that forms distinctive patterns, as well as physical properties like luster, hardness, density, cleavage, and fracture that can be used to identify different types of minerals. Common tests used to identify minerals include analyzing their streak, luster, density, cleavage, fracture, and relative hardness on the Mohs scale.

Uploaded by

Phi Deppezz
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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What is a Mineral?

 A naturally occurring,
inorganic solid that has a
crystal structure & a definite
chemical composition.

 Example: Quartz
Naturally Occurring:
 Found in nature
 Not man-made
 Forms
underground
Inorganic Solid:
 Means the mineral cannot come
from things that were once living
 Not a liquid or gas

 Non Example: Coal – it is organic


because it comes from plants that
lived millions of years ago.
Crystal Structure:
 The repeating pattern of a
mineral’s particles that line up
when they form.
 Looks like rock candy.
 There are 6 different crystal
systems. They are categorized by
the # & the angle of the crystal
faces
Crystal structures look like…
6 Different Crystal Systems:
 Cubic Ex: Magnetite
 Hexagonal Ex: Quartz
 Tetragonal Ex: Rutile
 Orthorhombic Ex: Sulfur
 Monoclinic Ex: Azurite
 Triclinic Ex: Microcline
Feldspar
Some examples of the crystals:
Magnetite 

Rutile 
Sulfur 

Azurite 
So what if you don’t know which mineral
you have?

 There “tests” you can perform on


minerals to see what type of
mineral they might be.

Physical Properties Identify


Minerals. We will learn 6…
1. Streak Test

 The color of the mineral’s powder


that’s left behind when it is rubbed
across a rough surface.

 Ex: Pyrite looks like gold but, it’s streak


looks greenish-black (aka “fool’s gold”)
 Writing with your pencil in class = graphite!
2. Luster

 Describes how light is reflected from the


mineral’s surface. What does it look like?
 Types of luster:
 Metallic Ex: Galena
 Glassy Ex: Topaz
 Waxy, Greasy, Pearly Ex: Talc
 Dull Ex: Graphite
 Silky Ex: Malachite
 Earthy Ex: Hematite
3. Density
 It’s a calculation (math problem!)
 Use a balance to find the mass.
 Place the mineral in H2O to find the
amount of water it displaces. This amount
is the volume of the mineral.
 To find the density, divide mass by
volume.
 Ex: Sample of Olivine
 Mass = 237 g Volume = 72 cm3
 Density = 237 g/ 72 cm3 = 3.3 g/cm3
4. Cleavage

 One way minerals break


 Easily split along flat surfaces

 Ex: Mica & Feldspar


5. Fracture
 One way minerals break
 Break unevenly in irregular ways

 Chipped
 Shell-like Ex: Quartz
 Jagged points Ex: Copper & Iron
 Crumbles Ex: Clay
6. Mohs Hardness Scale
 A scale that ranks 10 minerals from softest to
hardest. You can compare unknown minerals
to the minerals on this scale.
 Hardness can be tested by a Scratch Test
 A mineral can scratch any other softer mineral
 It can also BE scratched by any harder mineral

 Softest Mineral = Talc


 Hardest Mineral = Diamond
Remember, some minerals are
important parts of our food
AND they are elements!
Some other common uses:

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